Here’s what’s trending today!
The first photos and teaser for season two of Dear White People have arrived. Things have change at Winchester University and the second season sees our faves battling racist trolls, PTSD, and unwelcome school changes. Netflix has set the show’s return for May 4, which means you should give everyone a heads up that you won’t be available that day. (The Grio)
A spokeswoman for Starbucks says the manager at a Philadelphia location where two Black men were recently arrested is no longer employed at the company. The two men were waiting for a friend to arrive when the store manager called the police after they asked to use the bathroom. The CEO of Starbucks flew to Philadelphia to meet with Mayor Jim Kenney and hopes to issue an apology to the two men. (6ABC)
A new document reveals that the National Rifle Association (NRA) has received more than 20 Russia-linked contributions. The NRA acknowledged to Congress that 23 Russians, or Americans living in Russia, have contributed to the organization since 2015. The organization also revealed that Kremlin-linked politician Alexander Torshin is a life member of the NRA and has been since 2012. While the organization says the contributions were just over $2,500, the information comes at a time when the FBI has questioned whether Russia might have attempted to use the NRA or other political organizations as part of their attack on the 2016 election. (NPR)
A teen has been arrested for the murder of three-year-old T’Rhigi Diggs. The toddler died in a drive-by shooting after the shooter missed his intended target. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with murder after surveillance footage and witnesses led police to him. (WSBTV)
Seven are dead and 17 injured after a riot occurred in a South Carolina prison. Guards at Lee Correctional Institution reportedly waited hours to stop the riot, which was sparked by gangs warring over contraband, money, and territory. (NYTimes)
Vulture has announced the lineup for its 2018 Vulture Festival. Stars like Tracy Morgan, Roxane Gay, Sonequa Martin-Green, Phoebe Robinson, Ava DuVernay and the cast of Queen Sugar will be on hand to talk about their projects, hit shows, and more. The festival kicks off May 19. Tickets go on sale April 18 and can be purchased at vulturefestival.com/ny.
The opioid crisis has gotten so severe that now one in eight transplanted organs comes from an overdose victim. While hospitals and transplant centers have been wary of using organs donated by transplant victims, a new study has shown that recipients live at least as long as those who get organs from accident victims and slightly longer than those who get organs from older donors who die from natural causes. Still, study lead author Christine Durand of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said the news is “another staggering statistic that shows how tragic the opioid crisis is.” (BuzzFeed News)
Drake has announced his new album, which will arrive just in time for summer. Scorpion will drop in June and fans are hoping that there will be more summer jams after the rapper’s “Nice For What” sent the internet into a frenzy. (Instagram)
Killer Mike and Joy Reid sat down to discuss the NRA and Black gun ownership on the MSNBC host’s show. During the segment, the rapper also apologized again for attempting to call out Reid over an Instagram caption. (Twitter)